Previous Portland-area school fires

March 19, 1979: Beaverton High School students were on spring
vacation at the time of a four-alarm fire. One firefighter was
critically burned and four others were treated for smoke inhalation.
Estimated damage to the school's auditorium was $800,000.

May 29, 1979: A three-alarm fire at Reynolds High school injured
three students. The fast-moving fired engulfed the entire school
gymnasium as well as the nearby drama center. The fire burned out of
control for at least three hours. Estimated damage was $2.5 million.

January 30, 1980: Sauvie Island School burned to the ground. No
effort was made to save the five-classroom building that also served as
the island's community center.

July 30, 1980: An arson fire caused more than $2 million in
damage to Park Elementary School in East Multnomah County. Fire bombs
set off a three-alarm fire that destroyed all but four classrooms and a
library. A 17-year-old and a 12-year-old were charged with the arson.

October 2, 1980: Woodstock Elementary, a Southeast Portland historic landmark built in 1911, was partly destroyed by a five-alarm fire apparently touched off by a worker's torch. More than 500 students were safely evacuated. Estimated damage was $500,000.

Dec. 15, 1990: A weekend fire destroyed much of 40-year-old
Pioneer Middle School. Two wings of classrooms and the gym were damaged
by water and smoke.

Jan. 2, 1991: An arsonist caused an estimated $300,000 in damage to Benson High School, which was forced to cancel classes for three days.

September 1991: An arsonist set at least six fires at Jefferson High School.

Jan. 30, 1993: A two-alarm fire that started in an exercise room of Duniway Elementary School caused $2,500 in damage.

February 2003: A fire caused more than $1 million in damage to
several classrooms and the auditorium at Lent Elementary School. In
October 2004. A 15-year-old boy was arrested on accusations of arson
and burglary in connection with the fire. He also faced an accusation
of criminal mischief.

June 18, 2003: Vandalism was thought to be the cause of a fire
at Wilson High School, which caused $3,000 in damages to the building
and its contents. Two former Wilson students were arrested less than a
month later in connection with the arson as well as fires at two
Portland middle schools. A June 22 fire at Jackson Middle School caused
$25,000 in damage to the office. Before that, Gray Middle School was
damaged by what school officials said was an incendiary device.

Aug. 11, 2003: Fire investigators said a four-alarm fire at Binnsmead Middle School, now called Clark K-8 at Binnsmead, was started by roofing contractors using a propane torch to apply roofing materials. The fire was contained to the auditorium roof. Damaged totaled more than $1.5 million.

June 29, 2004: About $5,000 of damage reported at Madison High
School. Fire investigators suspect fireworks caused the fire at the
Northeast Portland school. Heat from smoldering buses on the southwest
corner of the building led to cracked windows and glass. The sprinkler
system kept the fire from spreading to the school's interior. Water
damage was confined to the metal shop on the ground floor.